Is the Latin term “Ex Nihilo” a part of your everyday thinking?

Many people have heard the Latin term “Ex Nihilo”, but they have never given much thought about what it means in general or to them personally. The Latin “Ex” means “FROM” and the Latin “Nihilo” means “NOTHING”. So it literally means “OUT OF NOTHING”. In biblical terms or Christian terms it is applied to the creation of the universe and how God literally created the original universe during the 7 day creation period recorded in Genesis…6 days of creation and 1 day of rest, approval, and enjoyment.

The word used in Genesis 1:1 is the Hebrew word bârâ. This means to ‘create from nothing’. The text reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. Before this, there was only the Triune God. There was no pre-existing material that He took and re-worked into the present universe. Paul emphasizes this concept in Romans 4:17 where he wrote, “God is the one “who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Rom. 4:17).

Hebrews 11:3 also confirms this in how it says, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible”. Absolutely nothing existed before the Lord Jesus Christ literally and simply spoke the entire creation (the universe and everything in it) into being, with it’s space, time, energy, physical materials, and governing natural laws.

You talk about the power of the spoken word, it does not get any better than this. The apostle John wanted to make this very clear as he proclaimed in John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things through Him came to be, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.”

The Lord Jesus is mentioned 6 times in these verses as the one who did all of the creating (speaking into existence out of absolutely nothing).
….In the beginning was the Word (this is Jesus).
….The Word was with God (this is Jesus).
….The Word was God (this is Jesus).
….He was in the beginning with God the Father (this is Jesus).
….All things came into being through Him (this is Jesus).
….Apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being (this is Jesus).

In Colossians 1:16, Paul was teaching the Colossian Christians (and us) how all the things in the universe, whether visible or not, were made by/through Christ Jesus. This is how he phrased it, “By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him”.

The Lord Jesus Christ did create the universe “Ex Nihilo” – from nothing and out of nothing. When He did this, He had a purpose for doing it. He created the universe to sustain the life He would then create to live inside that universe. Therefore, the universe and your life and my life have deep, deep meaning and purpose. The Bible reveals what that purpose is.

Your purpose for coming into existence inside God’s universe is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that begins now during your short life here on earth and continues forever with Him. In John 10:10, Jesus explains His purpose for you when He said, “I came (into this world) so that they (you and I) would have life, and have it abundantly (and eternally).

You cannot now or ever find this LIFE in education or academics, physical exercise or sports, marriage or sexual activities, food & drink, traveling, professional careers, wealth, politics, or whatever. The Lord Jesus is the only source for this LIFE.

In John 1:11-13, Jesus extends His direct and personal invitation to you to come to Him and receive (experience) this LIFE. Here is how He said it…”He came to His own (the Jewish people), and His own people (the Jewish race) did not accept Him. But as many as received Him (Jews or Gentiles – anyone alive on earth), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.

Therefore – the four relevant questions for you today are:

• Have you come to Him to be saved from your sinful nature?
• Have you ask Him to come into your life as your personal Lord & Savior?
• Have you believed in His name?
• Have you been born-again spiritually by the will of God?

I pray you have or you will now!
Gene